Cash grant kick-starts team

RUGBY-mad girls are jumping for joy after being handed a £1,000 grant to kick-start a new team.

Castleford Rugby Union Football Club will use the cash from Comic Relief to launch its From Little Acorns Girls initiative – which will offer women over the age of 19 the chance to play the sport.

Steve Ball, club secretary, said “This grant will really help us provide an opportunity for our present girls to continue to play rugby after the age of 18.

“There is a general lack of team sport provision for ladies in our area. Many women would like to become involved in fitness activities but all provision is focused on individual activity – I think that more may be attracted by the opportunity of joining a supportive team.

“This would overcome a sense of isolation and lack of confidence that all too often manifests itself in a reluctance to get back into sporting activity.

“We have a track record of building teams up from a small nucleus of players and we’d like to use the money to put two coaches in place, pay for their coaching courses, buy some equipment and while we will have to look for external sponsorship for a kit, this grant will help us kick start the project. ”

The cash grant was awarded through the Comic Relief Grants Scheme, which is managed by the Community Foundation for the Wakefield District to increase participation in a team sport.

Mike Connell, treasurer, added: “Membership fees for gyms are often prohibitive. The support and encouragement to continue with sport is often lacking once girls have left school and we consider that while women’s rugby has gone from strength to strength over recent years and nationwide participation is currently at an all time high, there is little local provision and we can help plug that gap. “We want absolute beginners and experienced players to come down to the club and everyone is encouraged to bring a friend. We wish to attract ladies who want to enjoy their sport as well as the social side of being a member of a club.”